Stark Contrast

Opposites

In this episode of Interweb Activities for Shut-ins, we troll the virtual aisles of  eBay in search of white pottery planters. Why white? I suppose my sudden need for the colorless is the yin to my recent yang for all things riotous-hued. In any case, once I typed the keywords “white pottery planter” into eBay’s search bar the hunt was on. There was a lot to love and lots to loathe in every price point, everything from granny-ready knick-knackery to important collector’s specimens. I decided my focus would be on vessels in animal forms, faux bois and oddities, and they had to be inexpensive. My targets also had to feature a BUY IT NOW button on their listings … I was not interested in checking back and bidding against others. Pictured above is a selection of my early arrivals mixed with some white faves already on-hand. I got so into the black’n’white groove I made a whole vignette out of it; balancing the whiteness with a topping of black items in various materials (and a couple of rocks from the garden). Not content to stop there, I add two framed b/w prints from an old art instruction manual.

—)>o<(—

Here are a few pale stand-outs …

Whites

From top left, clockwise: My ‘Chaly’ vase from DFC Casa looks like the love child of Alfred E. Neuman and a traditional elf. A gift from a friend, it’s nice to see him in the living room every day; I couldn’t resist this huge snail with the bulbous pom-pom eye stalks (and bonus eyes beneath). Love his goofy groovy grin; This pious beauty with the downcast eyes has a planting pouch on her back. According to an inscription on the bottom it was a 25th anniversary gift from Alta & Elton to Norma & Harold, in 1975. The delicate, wing-like fingers were the hook and what prompted me to go above my $50 budget; Last, sporting a messy tillandsia up-do is my spirit-baby talisman from Etsy shop, Mudpuppy … With my surgery just hours away I’ll be looking his way a lot.

—)>o<(—

Even though they’re white, each piece is different: Some are a warm white softly kissed with yellow; others have a chillier grey undertone. Some are shiny-glossy; others rough, grainy. My study in contrasts is complete.